THE NETHERLANDS

Iona Community Nederland’ is the new name of the Dutch Iona Group, which was founded in 1999. In 2024 we will celebrate our 25th anniversary.

At the moment four Iona Community Members and 34 Associate Members are living in the Netherlands. However, far more people are involved in the ‘Iona Community Nederland’ network.

Around 60 people meet regularly in five sub-regions (Regiogroepen), listed below. ‘Iona Community Nederland’ is a platform for people who are interested in Iona and the Iona Community. We want to promote and enculturate the ideas and thoughts of the Iona Community into Dutch society by organising national events, groups in sub-regions, and making available books and other resources for the wider public.

HOW WE WORK IN THIS REGION

We have six sub-regions in the Netherlands.
The contact details for the regions are as follows:

Noord-Holland: Frans Breukelman, [email protected]

Mid-West (The Hague – Leiden- Gouda):  Anne van den Berg, [email protected]

Rotterdam: Desirée van der Hijden and Jan Maasen, [email protected] 

Utrechtse Heuvelrug:  Goof Lindijer, [email protected]

Veluwezoom (Arnhem-Zutphen): Roel Bosch and Jantine Groenewold, [email protected]

Zwolle: Arjen Meihuizen, [email protected] 

We have three working groups

Translation group

We have a very active translation group, which translates valuable songs, prayers and liturgical texts of the Wild Goose Resource Group into Dutch. You can find these translated texts on our website.

Climate group

We have a Signal Group which connects those who want to take action for the climate. Members have participated in the A12 march, climate demonstrations, the Schiphol prayer, protests at pension funds and PKN about their investments, and joined actions by Christian Climate Action and Extinction Rebellion. To join the group, email [email protected]

Vrede voor Palestina-groep (Peace for Palestine)

We have a Signal Group called Vrede voor Palestina. In this group, participants exchange ideas on how they can contribute to peace and justice for Palestine and Israel. To join the group, email [email protected]

Coordination Group

On a national level a Coordination Group meets twice a year to support the subregions and to plan and evaluate national events and actions. Participants include Members, representatives of the subregions, representatives of working-groups (Translation Group, Climate Group, website, newsletter,). An Executive Committee of 4 people does the day-to-day management.

Each subregion meets 6 to 8 times a years to exchange personal news, discuss an Iona Community related issue, worship and eat together.

On a national level a Coordination Group meets twice a year to support the subregions and to plan and evaluate national events and actions. Participants include Members, representatives of the subregions, representatives of working-groups (website, newsletter, Spring Conference, Columba Day). An Executive Committee of 4 people does the day-to-day management.

Each year we organise a Spring Conference in Dopersduin in Schoorl for everyone who is interested in Iona and the Iona Community. Dates for the next conferences:

• 24, 25 and 26 May 2024
• 29, 30, 31 May and 1 June 2025 (long weekend starting on Ascension Day)

We publish our own digital Newsletter  4 to 6 times a year, reaching 400 people, have a Facebook-page and a website: www.ionacommunity.nl

KEY PARTNERS AND NETWORKS IN THIS REGION

The Annual Spring Conferences are held in Dopersduin, the Mennonite Holiday and Conference Centre in Schoorl. E: www.dopersduin.nl

In the Netherlands you can buy many books of the Wild Goose Resource Group (in English) and books on Iona and the Iona Community in Dutch via the webshop of Docete. See www.docete – zoeken-Iona

Many of the Dutch books are written or translated by members of the Iona Community Netherlands.

CONTACT US

If you have any queries or would like to find out more about the Iona Community Nederland, please contact
Name/s: secretary, Hanneke Ruitenbeek
Email: [email protected]

or

Regional Coördinator: Jan Maasen
Email address: [email protected]

RESOURCES